Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Displaying items by tag: Belview, etc

The Port of Waterford is to have a maintenance dredging campaign start in the week beginning 13 November, with the work to be carried out at three locations along Waterford estuary, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The Cypriot flagged dredger Freeway, will conduct dredging activities in the vicinity of Belview which is the port’s main terminal and at nearby Cheekpoint and further downriver on the Waterford Estuary at Duncannon Bar, close to the Passage-East ferry service.

Disposal of the dredged spoil by the 4,500m³ capacity trailing suction hopper dredger will according to the port take place at an approved site south west of Hook Head, out in the open sea.

Following the completion of dredging, a bed levelling campaign will be carried out by the multi-cat vessel Fastnet Sound which is operated by Fastnet Shipping based in Bilberry, Waterford City.

The vessels will maintain a continuous VHF watch on Channels 14 & 16, and will display regulation shapes and lights as per I.R.P.C.S. All vessels approaching the area of operations should communicate with the vessels on Channel 14 and proceed with caution.

It is expected that the dredging maintenance campaign is to take approximately 25 days to complete and that mariners are reminded of their responsibilities under the International Collision Regulations.

The dredging work has been contracted to Irish Dredging based in Cork which is a subsidiary of Boskalis, a leading global dredging and offshore contractor and maritime services provider.

For more than 50 years Irish Dredging has carried out such work and marine projects and have access to technological support and dredgers for the most part, based in Ireland or the UK, potentially minimising response times and mobilisation costs.

Currently, Afloat has tracked the Freeway which is working off the UK south coast with operations at Portsmouth. 

In addition, Irish Dredging has the use of the Royal Boskalis Westminster fleet of vessels, giving the capability to undertake a wide range of projects.

Published in Dredging

Every Year Ireland's Search & Rescue Services deliver emergency life saving work on our seas, lakes and rivers.

Ireland's Water Safety Agencies work hard to provide us with the information we need to keep safe, while enjoying all manner of water based activities.

There's no better fun than getting out on the water but being afloat is a responsibility we all need to take seriously.

These pages detail the work of the rescue agencies. We also aim to promote safety standards among pleasure boaters, and by doing so, prevent, as far as possible, the loss of life at sea and on inland waters. If you have ideas for our pages we'd love to hear from you. Please email us at [email protected]

Think Before You Sink - Wear a Lifejacket

Accidents can happen fast on water and there may not be time to reach for a lifejacket in an emergency therefore don't just carry a lifejacket - wear it; if it's not on you, it can't save your life.

Irish Water Safety's Safe Boating Alert:

Check condition of boat and equipment, hull, engine, fuel, tools, torch.

Check the weather forecast for the area.

Check locally concerning dangerous currents and strong tides.

Do not drink alcohol while setting out or during your trip.

Carry an alternative means of propulsion e.g. sails and oars or motor and oars.

Carry a first aid kit on board and distress signals (at least two parachute distress rockets, two red hand flares).

Carry a fire extinguisher, a hand bailer or bucket with lanyard and an anchor with rope attached.

Carry marine radio or some means of communication with shore.

Do not overload the boat - this will make it unstable.

Do not set out unless accompanied by an experienced person.

Leave details of your planned trip with someone ashore - including departure and arrival times, description of boat, names of persons on board, etc.

Wear a Lifejacket at all times.

Keep an eye on the weather - seek shelter in good time.

In Marine Emergencies, call 999 or 112 and ask for Marine Rescue.

Lifejackets Checklist

Ensure Cartridges have not been punctured and are secured firmly.

Ensure all zips, buckles, fasteners and webbing straps are functioning correctly and adjusted to fit the user.

Check that fitted lights are operating correctly.

Ensure that Automatic Inflation devices are fully serviced and in date.

Check that the valve or lifejacket is not leaking.